Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Inoue.
We present a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which was fed only by the right renal capsular artery. Ten years earlier, this patient underwent surgery for a solitary HCC in segment IV. However, the hepatic artery was patent and did not participate in feeding the HCC. We consider the renal capsular artery as an essential extrahepatic parasitic feeding artery to HCC.
We describe the technique and the results of a method to reconstruct the patellar tendon insertion to a tumor prosthesis by wrapping an artificial mesh around the prosthesis, followed by suturing the patellar tendon and a gastrocnemius flap to the mesh.
26,27-Hexafluoro-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [F6-1,25-(OH)2D3] is more potent than 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] in stimulating bone resorption in vitro and in vivo. The reason why F6-1,25(OH)2D3 is more active remains unclear. To clarify the relationship between the bone-resorbing activity of each vitamin D3 analogue and the metabolism of each analogue, in the present study, we used an ex vivo method that was established by Reynolds et al (Calcif Tissue Res, 1974, 15, 333-339). The effect of F6-1,25(OH)2D3 or 1,25(OH)2D3 on 45Ca release from parietal bones, prepared at 3, 14 and 24 h after injection of 1.9, 3.8, 7.6 or 15.2 pmol vitamin D analog/g body weight, was examined. F6-1,25(OH)2D3 was more potent than 1,25(OH)2D3 during each in vivo time period. 1,25(OH)2D3 at 3 h after the injection was more active compared to the control (no injection of 1,25(OH)2D3) but not at 14 and 24 h. The radioactivity of the bones after the injection of [3H]-F6-1,25(OH)2D3 was retained even at 24 h. In the case of [3H]-1,25(OH)2D3, the radioactivity of bones decreased with an increase in the in vivo period. In a HPLC analysis of the lipid extract of bone homogenate, [3H]-F6-1,25(OH)2D3 alone was detected at 3 h after the injection and both [3H]-F6-1,25(OH)2D3 and [3H]-26,27-hexafluoro-1 alpha, 23S,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3 [F6-1,23,25(OH)3D3] were detected at 14 and 24 h after the injection. [3H]-1,25(OH)2D3 was highly detected at 3 h after the injection, but it decreased with an increase in the in vivo period. In the ex vivo test, the activity of F6-1,23,25(OH)3D3 was less than that of F6-1,25(OH)2D3 but similar to that of 1,25(OH)2D3. The present study indicates that F6-1,25(OH)2D3 is more active and more long-lasting than 1,25(OH)2D3 in the ex vivo method. A higher potency of F6-1,25(OH)2D3 is explained, at least partly, by the results that the amounts of both F6-1,25(OH)2D3 and its active metabolite, F6-1,23,25(OH)3D3, in the bones are higher than that of 1,25(OH)2D3, and that F6-1,25(OH)2D3 and its metabolite are retained in bones longer than 1,25(OH)2D3.
We have previously reported that cholecystokinin (CCK) plays an important role in the invasiveness and the production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in two human pancreatic cancer cell lines. In this study we investigated the pathway of the invasiveness associated with MMP-9 of those lines regulated by CCK. Two human pancreatic cancer cell lines were treated with CCK-8 alone, CCK-8 and staurosporine, or CCK-8 and indomethacine. The invasiveness and the production of MMP-9 were decreased with staurosporine but not indomethacine. These results suggest that CCK may regulate the invasiveness and the production of MMP-9 via protein kinase C in human pancreatic cancer cell lines.
Taxotere (Docetaxel) is a novel microtubulin inhibitor which is currently in phase II/III clinical trial. We found that the sensitivity to taxotere was correlated with apoptotic cell death determined by the internucleosomal DNA ladders in gastric cancer cell lines. The treatment of taxotere activated proapoptotic genes such as bcl-Xs and bax genes. The relationship between the mRNA induction of bcl-Xs and bax genes and the internucleosomal DNA ladders by taxotere was significant, respectively (p<0.05). The introduction of bcl-Xs gene into MKN45 gastric cancer cells increased the sensitivity to VP-16 and taxotere 2-3-fold in the IC50 values, whereas the introduction of bax gene increased the sensitivity to CDDP, VP-16 and taxotere 2-5-fold in the IC50 values, as compared to that of the Neo-transfected MKN45 cells. The mRNA overexpression of bax gene was found in the bcl-Xs-transfected cells. Likewise, the mRNA overexpression of bcl-Xs gene was also found in the bax-transfected cells. These results indicate that the activation of bcl-2 family genes such as bcl-Xs and bax plays a crucial role in modulating apoptotic cell death in the sensitivity to anticancer drugs, and suggest that these proapoptotic genes might interact in the up-regulation for activating downstream signals leading to apoptosis in gastric cancer cells.
This study examined the relationship between the bone quality of the proximal tibia, which was quantitatively investigated by histomorphometric method at the time of total knee arthroplasty, and the occurrence of loosening of an all-polyethylene tibial component in nine rheumatoid arthritis patients. Despite severe osteoporosis, there was no loosening after 12.8 years. These results suggest that even severe osteoporosis does not influence the occurrence of loosening of a cemented, all-polyethylene tibial component in rheumatoid patients with low activity levels. We recommend the use of all-polyethylene tibial component for low-activity patients.
118 patients with lung cancer who underwent treadmill exercise electrography (ECG) as part of their preoperative evaluation, were investigated for postoperative events. On the treadmill exercise ECG 27 patients were positive and 91 were negative. The more elderly patients tended to reveal ischemic findings in treadmill exercise ECG. Of the 71 patients with normal of result by ECG at rest, 15 patients (21.1%) had postoperative ischemic change on ECG. As a result, it was considered that this examination was insufficient to detect latent ischemic heart disease. The patients who had a discontinued at stage 2 or less of the Bruce protocol and had a negative result by treadmill exercise ECG, were classified as insufficient group and separated from the others. (27/118 patients). This group consisted of advanced age (p < 0.05) who tended to experience postoperative events. In the sufficient group, patients showed ischemic events predominantly on ECG at postoperative period (p < 0.01). We concluded that as preoperative screening of heart disease prior to lung cancer surgery ECG at rest was not adequate while treadmill exercise ECG was useful.
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During endochondral bone formation, vascular invasion into cartilage initiates the replacement of cartilage by bone. Chondromodulin-I, a 25 kDa glycoprotein purified from bovine epiphyseal cartilage, was recently identified as a novel endothelial cell growth inhibitor. Here we cloned the mouse chondromodulin-I cDNA from a mouse whole embryo cDNA library. Northern blot analysis revealed that the chondromodulin-I transcripts were expressed in association with the formation of cartilage expressing type II collagen from days 11 to 17 of gestation in mouse embryos, at which time cartilaginous bone rudiments were gradually replaced by bone. Chondromodulin-I mRNA was also detected in the thymus and eyes at a lower level. In situ hybridization revealed significant expression in all cartilaginous tissues in the embryos at days 13.5 and 16 of gestation. However, the expression was completely abolished in the hypertrophic cartilage zone prior to calcification. Upon chondrogenic differentiation of mouse ATDC5 cells in vitro, the expression of chondromodulin-I transcripts was induced concomitantly with the formation of type II collagen-expressing chondrocytes. The expression of the transcripts then declined as type X collagen-expressing hypertrophic chondrocytes appeared in the culture. Purified chondromodulin-I protein inhibited the vascular invasion into cartilage ectopically induced by demineralized bone matrix in nude mice, leading to the suppression of bone formation in vivo. These results suggest that chondromodulin-I is involved in the anti-angiogenic property of cartilage, and that the withdrawal of its expression allows the vascular invasion which triggers the replacement of cartilage by bone during endochondral bone development.
Pancreatic cancer has one of the poorest prognoses among malignant diseases. To understand its molecular mechanisms, we studied allelic losses on the long arm of chromosome 6. Using 55 paired DNAs of tumors and their corresponding normal tissues and 30 microsatellite markers that spanned the entire 6q chromosome arm, we found three distinct regions of common allelic loss: region A, a less than 500-kb region bordered by D6S449 and D6S283 on 6q21 with a loss of heterozygosity (LOH) frequency of 69% (38/55); region B, a 7-cM region bordered by D6S292 and D6S308 on 6q23-q24 with a LOH frequency of 60% (33/55); and region C, a 13-cM region bordered by D6S305 and D6S264 with a LOH frequency of 51% (28/55). We further focused on region A and constructed a physical map using yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones, their derived cosmid clones, and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones. Region A was completely covered by three overlapping BAC clones. Our results in the present study should shed light on the cloning and characterization of tumor suppressor genes in pancreatic carcinogenesis.
BACKGROUND: We report on the usefulness of thoracoscopic surgery by the Two Windows Method in mediastinal diseases. While the positioning of the two-window skin incisions was originally decided for lung cancer, but we have been using precisely the same method to biopsy and remove mediastinal lesions. METHODS: Thoracoscopic surgery by the Two Windows Method was performed in 40 cases in which it had been impossible to make a diagnosis by noninvasive methods. Access to the pleural cavity was achieved by making skin incisions in two places anterior and posterior to the inferior angle of the scapula in the fourth intercostal space. RESULTS: Biopsy was performed in 17 of the 40 patients to make a histological diagnosis. It was possible to make a definitive histological diagnosis in all of the patients. Complete resection of a mediastinal tumor was performed in 23 patients, and the resection was concluded thoracoscopically by the Two Windows Method in 22 of these patients (95.7%), with the only exception of one patient in whom we converted to standard thoracotomy because of intraoperative bleeding. There were no postoperative complications and no perioperative deaths. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the Two Windows Method is also useful for the diagnosis and complete resection of mediastinal diseases and that this is a low-invasive and safe method.
Two cases with HLA-B 27 negative, Chlamydia-induced reactive arthritis (ReA) were described. Case 1: A 30 y.o. male developed balanitis, urethritis, arthritis of both knees, elbows, shoulders and hip joints on May in 1997. Laboratory findings revealed CRP 2.7 mg/dl (normal range < 0.3), ESR 33 mm/h and negative rheumatoid factor (RF) test. Anti-Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies, IgG 2.22, IgA 3.33 were positive. HLA-typing revealed A 2, A 24 (9), B 39 (16), B 52 (5). He was diagnosed as ReA and arthritis subsided with treatment of minocycline and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Case 2: A 40 y.o. Iranian American male developed balanitis, urethritis, lumbago, arthritis of both elbows, knees and foot joints, iridocyclitis on August in 1995. Chlamydia trachomatis was detected in the urethral swab culture. He was diagnosed as ReA and treated with minocycline and NSAIDs. He was referred to our hospital on June in 1996. Arthritis at both knees and feet was detected. Laboratory findings revealed CRP 0.8 mg/dl, negative RF test was revealed. Antibodies to Chlamydia were positive (IgG 1.49, IgA 1.53) positive. HLA typing revealed A 1, A 2, B 37, B 55 (22). He was again treated with minocycline and NSAIDs and ReA ameliorated. Since HLA-B 22, B 37 and B 39 have been reported to cross-react or to have homology with B 27, B 22, B 37 and B 39 are likely to related to inducing ReA.
The rate of progression of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) was radiologically studied during a 3-year period in three patient populations: (a) after laminoplasty (25 patients), (b) after laminectomy (16 patients), and (c) in patients who were managed without surgery (56 patients). There appeared to be no significant difference between these two surgical procedures in postoperative progression of OPLL. When progression of OPLL was compared between patients treated surgically and nonsurgically, posterior surgery accelerated progression of OPLL.
UNLABELLED: Although halothane inhibits endothelium-mediated vasorelaxation, the sites of inhibition remain controversial. Because the cytosolic concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) has crucial roles for tension development, we examined the effects of halothane on nitroglycerin-induced vasorelaxation from the standpoint of [Ca2+]i. Isolated spiral strips of rat thoracic aorta without endothelium were suspended for isometric tension recordings in a physiologic salt solution. Muscle contraction was evoked with 10(-8) M norepinephrine, followed by endothelium-independent vasorelaxation with nitroglycerin 10(-7) and 10(-6) M. The effects of halothane 1.5% and 3% on nitroglycerin-induced vasorelaxation were evaluated along with the concomitant measurement of [Ca2+]i using fura-2-Ca2+ fluorescence. In other muscle strips, incremental doses of norepinephrine were administered during halothane exposure to induce contractions comparable to those without halothane. Nitroglycerin dose-dependently reduced norepinephrine-induced muscle contractions, but the decrease in [Ca2+]i reached a plateau at 10(-7) M, which indicates that nitroglycerin induced [Ca2+]i-dependent and [Ca2+]i-independent vasorelaxation. Both concentrations of halothane inhibited nitroglycerin-induced decreases in muscle tension and [Ca2+]i, not only when the same dose of norepinephrine was used for contraction during halothane exposure, but also at incremental doses of norepinephrine. In conclusion, halothane inhibits nitroglycerin-induced vasorelaxation partly by suppressing Ca2+ changes in the smooth muscle. IMPLICATIONS: We examined nitroglycerin-induced vasorelaxation in the rat thoracic aorta, along with the concomitant measurement of the cytosolic concentrations of Ca2+, and found that halothane attenuated endothelium-independent vasorelaxation by suppressing Ca2+ dynamics in the smooth muscle.
BACKGROUND: In this study, we measured survival periods of fibroblasts cultured under conditions providing minimal nutrition. This investigation aims to develop the high affinity hybrid artificial organs on tissues or organs finally. METHODS: Dermal fibroblasts were inoculated on 96-well multiplate according to routine technique. The medium of these cells maintained for 24 hours replaced the new DME medium containing 10% FBS (group 1) or without FBS (group 2) and then cultured for 10 days without medium change. The surviving cell numbers were measured using MTS assay. RESULTS: Surviving cell numbers of both groups decreased progressively during the 10-day assay period. Overall 25-40% of the fibroblasts survived for at least 10 days. It decreased significantly, however, in group 2 from day 2 through day 4 as compared to group 1. In contrast, the cell number decreased in group 1 to a greater extent than in group 2 after day 6. When the cells that survived until day 10 were then cultured with fresh DME medium containing 10% FBS for 3 more days, the cell numbers returned to 50-100% of the initial level CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that fibroblasts cell function is maintained under poor nutritional conditions, i.e., without serum, possibly via an autocrine or paracrine mechanism. These data could contribute much to the research of hybrid artificial organs, including an artificial trachea, in which hybridization of cultured cells with artificial matrices remains to be a basic process, and has to serve in bloodless postimplantation period.
A 67-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with confusion and asterixis on January 23, 1994. She had had the same symptoms repeatedly. On admission she was disorientated, and had slurred speech and asterixis. Laboratory data showed hyperammonemia (84 micrograms/dl) with a poor ICG hepatic clearance (ICG15min = 32%), although hepatic failure did not exist. Abdominal ultrasonography, CT scan and liver biopsy showed no evidence of cirrhosis. Celiac arteriography revealed a large shunt vessel connecting the portal vein to the left renal vein. A 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a bilateral and symmetrical hyperintensity of the globus pallidus in the T1-weighted images. Portal-systemic encephalopathy recurred repeatedly in spite of the conservative therapy, and there was no evidence of the portal hypertension. Therefore, the operative procedure of ligation of the shunt vessel was done on February 21, 1995. After the operation, blood ammonia level and ICG hepatic clearance were normalized. She became free from encephalopathy. Twenty-seven months after the operation, the hyperintensity of the globus pallidus in the T1-weighted images completely disappeared. There have been several reports describing that the globus pallidus alterations on the T1-weighted images in patients with liver cirrhosis, manganese intoxication and portal-systemic encephalopathy. To our knowledge, this is the first case that the hyperintense signal of the basal ganglia in a patient with portal-systemic encephalopathy disappeared completely after occlusion of the shunt vessel.
A 32-year-old woman in the 36th week of pregnancy was admitted to obstetrics with a complaint of left flank pain. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a left perinephric hematoma before the cesarean section. Spontaneous rupture of renal angiomyolipoma was suspected by computed tomographic scan and renal angiography after the cesarean section. We attempted partial nephrectomy, but performed nephrectomy because of perinephric adhesion. This is the 11th case of spontaneous rupture of renal angiomyolipoma during pregnancy in the Japanese literature.
The bacteria isolated from the patients with lower respiratory tract infections were collected by institutions located throughout Japan, since 1981. Ikemoto et al. have been investigating susceptibilities of these isolates to various antibacterial agents and antibiotics, and analyzed some characteristics of the patients and isolates from them each year. Results obtained from these investigations are discussed. In these 17 institutions around the entire Japan, 512 strains of presumably etiological bacteria were isolated mainly from the sputa of 440 patients with lower respiratory tract infections during the period from October in 1997 to September in 1998. MICs of various antibacterial agents and antibiotics were determined against 100 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 81 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 85 strains of Haemophilus influenzae. 71 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mucoid strains), 27 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mucoid strains), 33 strains of Moraxella subgenus Branhamella catarrhalis, 17 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae etc., and the susceptibilities of these strains were assessed except for those strains that died during transportation. S. aureus strains for which MICs of oxacillin (MPIPC) were higher than 4 micrograms/ml (methicillin-resistant S. aureus: MRSA) accounted for 55.0%. The frequency of the drug resistant bacteria decreased comparing to the previous year's 67.3%. Arbekacin (ABK) and vancomycin (VCM) showed the most potent activities against MRSA. Imipenem (IPM) and panipenem (PAPM) of carbapenems showed the most potent activities with MIC80S of 0.063 microgram/ml against S. pneumoniae. The frequency of penicillin (PC)-intermediate S. pneumoniae (PISP)+PC-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) had decreased gradually, that is, in 1995 the frequency of it was 40.3%, but that was 30.9% in 1997. Against H. influenzae and M.(B.) catarrhalis, all the drugs showed good activities. But the sensitive strains of them against ceftazidime (CAZ) had decreased in 1997, compared those in 1995 and 1996. Meropenem (MEPM), IPM and tobramycin (TOB) showed the most potent activity against P. aeruginosa (mucoid strains). And TOB and ciprofloxacin (CPFX) showed the most potent activities against P. aeruginosa (non-mucoid strains). All drugs except ampicillin (ABPC) were more active against K. pneumoniae in 1997 than that in 1996. Also, we investigated year to year changes in the characteristics of patients, their respiratory infectious diseases, and the etiology. The examination of age distribution indicated that the proportion of patients with ages over 70 years was 45.5% of all the patients showing a slight increase year by year. About the proportion of diagnosed diseases, not so particular changes were recognized as follows: Bacterial pneumonia and chronic bronchitis were the most frequent with 33.6% and 29.1%, respectively. Number of strains isolated from patients before administration of antibiotics were more than those after administration of them in chronic bronchitis, but these had reversed in bacterial pneumonia. The tendency in bacterial pneumonia had been acknowledged since 1995. The increase of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa (both mucoid and non-mucoid strains) isolated after administration of antibiotics, has suggested the decrease of the susceptibility of these strains against antibiotics. Administration of antibiotics has changed the results of the frequency of isolation of bacterial species. Bacterial isolations before administration of antibiotics were as follows: S. pneumoniae 24.5%, H. influenzae 21.4%, S. aureus 18.4% and P. aeruginosa 12.2%. The frequencies of S. aureus decreased after antibiotics administration over 15 days, but the frequencies of P. aeruginosa was not affected. The frequencies of P. aeruginosa was 47.8% after administration over 15 days. From patients administered antibiotics of penicillins and cephems. S. aureus was mainly detected with 31.7-58.3%, and from patients administere